Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of costs of (a) energy, (b) water and (c) business rates on the viability of pubs in West Dorset constituency.

The Government recognises the significant pressures facing the hospitality sector, including pubs in West Dorset, due to rising costs and the Government is providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures.

We aim to permanently reduce business rates for RHL properties with a rateable value of less than 500,000 and we have announced a new Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial which aims for Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels to receive free energy and carbon cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Additionally, the Department will continue to engage with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council with an aim to co-create solutions to the issues impacting business performance.